Hello Friends -
I am so excited to introduce my new best friend and yours too - Leah Miller. First and most importantly Leah pronouces her name like Jacobs first wife in the Bible or the Princess from Star Wars. I had the opportunity to be in a small break out group with her this summer when I took some classes through Mini-CAJE and I liked her then. It was a wonderful surprise when I sat in on the interviewing process and she was one of the candidates. In the first five minutes of her interview I knew she was the one. Leah used all my favorite words COMMUNITY, B'YACHAD, TOGETHER, COMMUNICATION. She talked about making the students experience in religous school a positive one so that they continued on her jewish journey into college and beyond.
Leah and I will continue to meet and overlap for the remainder of March. My last day of Religous School will be 3/21 and 3/22 and my last day as Religous School Administrator will be 3/31. Leah's official first day will be 4/1. Leah will be joining our classrooms this Sunday and Monday to introduce herself to our students and then at the end of our Chocolate Seder to introduce herself to all of you. I hope that you and your children will give Leah the warm Adat Reyim welcome that I have grown to love over the years. I have truly loved being a part of your children's lives these past two years and hope to stay in touch with you as a member of the community.
Leah asked me to share:
Dear Congregation Adat Reyim Religious School,
I am both excited and humbled to introduce myself as the new Religious Education Director at Congregation Adat Reyim. I am currently at my house in Maryland with my husband, Michael, our 2-year-old son Wesley, and our two cats, Gadget and Mister. While we all have been cooped up in our home for the past year (oy!), I have been on a journey to find the next step in my career and my next home away from home.
I was immediately drawn to Congregation Adat Reyim, and the meaning of the name of the synagogue itself, “community of friends.” Growing up as a Rabbi’s daughter, I have always believed that finding the right Jewish congregation is where you feel most at home and the most connected to your own personal Jewish journey. From the moment I met with the search committee, I experienced that warm and welcoming feeling that I was looking for, the community where I could call my next home. This is what I plan to instill in the youth of Congregation Adat Reyim, to give our students the tools to make their own informed choices after they graduate high school, go off to college, and become active members in their Jewish community, wherever life takes them.
I have a passion for working as a mentor to Jews of all ages and am committed to making a difference in the world, one B’nai Mitzvah (...and beyond!) at a time. I am excited to see what we will develop as a community, together. I would love to meet with you and hear more about your hopes for Jewish life and learning for the youth of Congregation Adat Reyim. On behalf of my family, thank you for welcoming us into your community, and I look forward to meeting you all on Zoom, and hopefully in-person very soon.
Be well and L’hitraot (see you soon).
On Sunday, March 21 there is a change on the calendar! Instead of having Ruach and grade level classes we will join together like we did for Chanukah for an all school program at 10am. We are going to celebrate Pesach as a community with a Chocolate Seder that the students are sure to enjoy! I will include the link in next weeks communication. I will have Seder packs available for each student to pick up on Tuesday, 3/16 at Adat Reyim from 5:15-6:45pm. If you cannot pickup during this time please let me know and we can make other arrangements.
Schedule:
Sunday 3/14
10:00am Regular Online Class
Monday 3/15
5:30pm Regular Online Class
7:15pm Minyan Click Here to Join Minyan
7:00-9:00pm Pack Chocolate Seder Goodies (email Liz if you want to help)
Tuesday 3/16
5:15-6:45pm Pickup Chocolate Seder Goodies (email Liz if you want to help)
Shabbat Shalom,
Elizabeth Bayer
Executive Director and Religious School Administrator
Congregation Adat Reyim
6500 Westbury Oaks Court
Springfield, Virginia 22152
religiousschool@adatreyim.org
(703)569-7577
I save all of my communication on the RS Blog located here: https://www.adatreyim.org/religious-school-blog.html
If you have any questions please call or text my cell for immediate need/response (708)261-8971, especially during school please use this number.
Click Here to Attend Saturday Morning Services
If you can't find the link to you class please refer to the Religious School Link Page . You must be logged in as a member of Adat Reyim to access this page. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any assistance! 708-261-8971cell phone.
